"Wiffle Ball on the DS makes Aquaman look good."

From DSI Games and Skyworks comes Wiffle Ball Advance. Let me start out by saying that I'm not trying to make a bias review and completely flame this game. In fact, I loved playing wiffle ball as a kid. I had hopes that Wiffle Ball Advance for the DS would bring back some of those memories, but unfortunately that wasn't the case.

When you turn the game on and get to the menu you'll have 4 options to choose from: Quick-Play, Season Mode, Multiplayer, and Options. Quick-Play allows you to jump right in and play a single game without any sort of consequences towards your standings, Season Mode allows you to choose a player to stick with through a series of games, Multiplayer allows you to play against friends, and Options allows you to change the volume of Music or Effects. As for any extras....there are none.

When you start playing you'll have a choice between 8 different characters to choose from who have different stats in hitting, fielding, and pitching though they don't really feel all that different from one player to another. If you're playing Quick-Play you'll have the option of selecting where you want to play. There are only 4 areas where you can play and the only difference between them are the background and the objects that are lying around.

The object of the game is very similar to baseball. If you are batting, the pitcher will throw a wiffle ball which will try to hit by holding down the A button or pressing the stylus against the screen and letting go at the right time so that the bat connects with the ball. All of this takes place on the lower screen. If you manage to hit it, which I found to be very difficult, it will very slowly move across the top screen where the pitcher will shuffle left or right trying to catch and the one outfielder who can move in all directions, except in front of the pitcher, will also try to catch it. If it lands in front of the pitcher you get a single, a little further and you'll get a double, and if you hit it very far you'll get a triple. Unfortunately on top of the trouble I had hitting the ball, the outfielder can move much faster than the ball itself and can easily catch it unless you manage to hit towards an object the outfielder can't get around. Once you switch and you're pitching you can choose what type of pitch, the speed and the direction it can be thrown in. The computer has a much easier time hitting the ball than you will. If the other player hits the ball you take control of your outfielder and try to catch the ball. The pitcher will move left or right automatically if it is heading for him.
I found the pace of the game to be very slow and I was extremely bored and frustrated after only a few innings.

The graphics and sound don't have any redeeming qualities either. The song that plays during games loops over and depending on where you are you'll hear a repeated sound effect. That's right one sound effect for that location. The only other sounds you hear is the sound when you hit or catch the ball. There is nothing else. The players could have at least done a little trash talking or something. The graphics are all pre-rendered motions. The environment doesn't move. There's no wind blowing that one tree in the school yard. Every pitch and hit gives the same motion from the players. It's entirely too bland.

Overall I found there to be no real strategy to this game. You'll clumsily try to hit the snail paced ball to find it easily caught by the other team and throw pitches that the CPU has no problem hitting. It'll make you want to throw your DS at someone with a baseball bat. There's nothing special about the sound and the graphics may have impressed someone in 1985. With no other options like batting practice or home run derbys it feels like the developers made the game in their spare time or had absolutely nothing else to do. I am forced to give this game a 1 out of 10 and advise you to do your self a favor and never buy this game.

Reviewer's Score: 1/10, Originally Posted: 01/16/07